Power System Engineer (Distribution Asset Management)

Job Description:

Power System Engineer (Distribution Asset Management)

Description

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles - Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits : Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security : Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options : Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness : Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces : Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

At Austin Energy, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your engineering expertise to projects that directly impact the reliability and safety of the city’s power grid. You’ll work with a collaborative team, tackle complex technical challenges, and contribute to building a smarter, more resilient energy future for one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation.

Step into a key engineering role with Austin Energy’s Distribution Asset Management Team, where you’ll apply your expertise in electric utility design, electric distribution concepts, and project management to keep our power grid safe and reliable. In this position, you’ll review pole inspection data to develop system improvements, manage distribution related projects and serve as a go-to resource for solving technical challenges.

Your day-to-day will involve close collaboration with colleagues across Engineering, Construction, and Project Management, giving you the opportunity to prepare electric distribution design cost estimates, engineering/feasibility reports, perform complex engineering calculations and analyze engineering problems. This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy blending technical design with hands-on problem solving-and who want their work to make a direct impact on powering the City of Austin.

Job Description:

Power System Engineer

Purpose:

Under minimal supervision designs, and assists in the design of electric utility system facilities, including: generation, electric substations, overhead and underground transmission and distribution lines, network systems, protection systems, supervisory control systems (SCADA), market operation and settlement systems, street lighting, and other electric system facilities. This position exists only in the Power Production and Electrical Services Delivery department of Austin Energy.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Prepares standards, equipment specifications, design procedures, test procedures
  
• Performs power system studies such as protective relay coordination, fault studies, load flows, service reliability, power quality, voltage stability, power system market operations and settlement studies, etc.
  
• Prepares engineering design and develops drawings and other documents for generation, transmission, distribution, substations and SCADA/EMS.
  
• Prepares circuit maps, control diagrams, charts, data bases, and plans for different electrical facilities.
  
• Provide assistance to all classes of customers, developers, and to other City Departments on technical matters relevant to electric utility services.
  
• Provide technical and financial inputs for projects in electric utility planning and budget process
  
• Investigate and analyze engineering design problems; develop appropriate solutions; draft reports and make presentations.
  
• Prepares safety procedures for electric facilities.
  
• Assist in efforts to keep up with the latest developments in the utility industry, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC) standards and regulatory requirements.
  
• Work closely with field personnel to support project energization.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

• May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of engineering design principles applicable to electric utility operations such as, generation, transmission, distribution, market operations and other related fields.
  
• Knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques such as trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.
  
• Knowledge of engineering standards, codes, practices, procedures, materials, and equipment used in the design, construction, and operation of the electric utility systems.
  
• Knowledge of established engineering principles and methods.
  
• Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.
  
• Ability to perform more complex engineering calculations and to analyze engineering problems.
  
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the local and state ordinances and laws.
  
• Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.
  
• Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.
  
• Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering, plus five (5) years of experience related to engineering.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

None.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Electric distribution design and construction experience.
  
• Project management experience related to electric distribution projects.
  
• Experience managing and coordinating multiple construction projects.
  
• Experience reading and/or writing technical specifications
  
• Ability to travel to more than one work location.
  

Notes to Candidate:

Location:

2500 Montopolis Dr. (SCC), Austin, TX 78741

Days and Hours:

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Flexible hybrid schedule available.

Salary range:

$91,080 - $117,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click here for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• Please be sure to detail on the application ALL current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
  
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held.
  
• Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
  
• Resumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see resumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
  
• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after seven (7) days from the date of the initial advertisement.
  
• Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.
  

Fair Labor Standards Act:

• This position is classified as EXEMPT (Salaried). Exempt employees are not eligible for overtime compensation.
  

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
  
• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  
• This position requires a criminal background investigation (CBI).
  

Work Schedule:

• This position has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained onsite to assist with operations and recovery.
  
  
• Work hours may include after hours, holidays, and weekends.
  
• Shifts may change according to departmental needs.
  
• Employees may be required to work additional hours outside of the regular work schedule.
  

Travel:

If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2025-12-30